Game Thread 2023-24 GAME #27 - BLAZERS VS WIZARDS - DECEMBER 21, 2023 - 7:00 PM PST - ROOT

Just curious, but what do you think Maxey’s DRtg would be if he played on the Blazers without Embiid backing up every blown defensive cover? According to Statmuse, Ant’s drtg so far this season is 18.8. Is the improvement (minimal though it may be) because he’s working harder on that end this year, or because Ayton is a slightly better rim protector than Nurk was? DRtg really measures a team’s defensive ability when a given player is on the court. The Blazers pretty much blow on defense (though less so this year) so I’m not sure it means much when used the way you’re using it here.

 

Hey now just calm down there Bucko! When did platypuses get so darn negative?

 

that can be true at the same time what I said was true...

if Portland was penciling in Ant as the SGOTF, they are fucking idiots who can't learn the lesson of the past 8-9 seasons about the importance of size and defense on the wings. But if they were saying Ant was the PGOTF they were really fucking their value equations by spending a 3rd pick on Scoot. I get the BPA rule, but I think that's a rule that has plenty of exceptions. This might have been one of them

 

Ant's defensive rating this season is 3.7 points worse than the team. Last year, it was 4.2 points worse than the team (bbref). So there appears to be a little improvement. Now, he's not playing with Embiid; but he is playing with Ayton, Camara, Thybulle and Walker

 

BPA is saying they can't predict how players will develop and they want to take as many stabs at getting a top 10 player as possible. I think that's a totally reasonable reason for taking Scoot. I think the only other argument is that Amen Thompson would have fit with any lineup and arguably has an even higher ceiling than Scoot. Other than that, I don't think there's anyone else they should have considered taking, so I'm fine with the decision.

 

Yeesh, Scoot has the worst defensive rating and BY FAR the worst offensive rating of anyone playing rotation minutes. 88 ORTG and he's playing 26.3 MPG? How is that even possible?

 

didn't have to take a player, they could have traded down, or traded out. A lot of teams seemed pretty interested in Scoot

I agree it doesn't make a lot of difference this season. Portland is going nowhere. But if guys like you and OneSport are going to take every opportunity to sing about the virtues of Simons, it's OK to add some context

 

I wasn't trying to paint Ant as becoming a defensive wizard; he's never going to be that. Just saying that comparing the defensive capabilities of different players on different teams by using DRtg is inherently flawed.

Comparing with guys in similar positions on the same team is a reasonable exercise. Thybulle - 112.3, Sharpe - 117.4, Brogdon - 118.1, Ant - 118.8, and Scoot - 119.5. Two conclusions: outside of Thybulle, the Blazers don't have any great backcourt defenders; and the Blazers' overall defense still blows.

 

Completely agree.

Ant is not perfect, but his is MUCH improved. I see Grant and/or Ayton out of position (or switching unnecessarily) causing a team defense break down far more often.

 

I wouldn't want to give him away but plenty of good players get traded after the team developed them. This is not logical. If there's a good deal that addresses a position of need then we should be looking at it.

It's not about Ant, it's about the long-term viability of this team and how it wants to play.

 

This assumption that Ayton is a rim protector is absolutely false.
From a defensive perspective, Nurk is the better player (unless he's out on a guard after a switch).

 

We'll start a "SELL THE TEAM!" chant.

 

Maybe. My impression is that Ayton rotates quicker. He's also been more available to play than Nurk was.

 

Maybe because he's the only one to block KD this season, twice...

 

Napkin math. 2pts * FGA per game * how much they are under the league average in TS%.

It's not a perfect formula but it should give a pretty close idea of how many points they'd score if they shot at the league average TS%.

 

I agree. Defensive rating is more of a team and rotation centered stat

I think the only somewhat fair gauge of the rating for players is comparing the individual rating to the team rating. Kind of a mini +/- gauge. That's one gauge that seems to match the eyeball fairly well

 

As we know , Billups took out Jabari Walker Jr. with about 3:00 left in the game.
It must have been in his rule book. We struggling against the lowly Wizards, but I can't let Walker finish the game.
It has to be a complete loss.

So, what did Grant do in those 3 minutes?
- He let Deni Avdija slip past him for a put-back shot.
- He committed an offensive foul.
- He faced Kyle Kuzma well enough near the hoop, but after Kuzma put up his shot (which missed) Kuzma slipped right past Grant and put the ball in.
+ He defended Kuzma well, making him miss a long 2-point attempt from the right side.
+ Got the 6th foul on Daniel Gafford.
- However, he missed a free throw that would have tied the game.

Then, of course, he does what Jabari Walker never would have done, drives to the hoop and throws up a shot off the backboard to lose the game.

 

Just not a great rebounder.

I don't know if that's counted as defense, but defensive rebounding should be.

 

Jabari's dad's name is Samaki so I don't know where the Jr. came from.

I think the idea that Jabari is better than Jerami in any facet of the game outside of rebounding is laughable. There are so many facets of the game, so Jerami was definitely the right player to have out there... if it had to be a decision between the two.